When losing 7 billion isn't that big a deal.

Turns out that Bill Gates lost 7 billion dollars last year. That's billion with a B. I gotta say, he's a better man than I cause if I had lost even a mere 7 million last year -- that's million with an M -- I'd certainly be doing some very vocal complaining to whomever would listen right now.

Funny thing is though that I don't really get a sense that this loss affected his life all that much. I mean did he suddenly start carefully selecting where it makes fiscal sense to eat based on the prices in the restaurant? As a teacher, I do this all the time. I mean I'd love to eat sushi WAY more often than I do, but I don't simply because well, hey, it's kinda expensive. And does Bill Gates now have to think differently about the type of car he drives, the cost of gas per gallon, or the price tag of a new shirt?

Probably not. So here it is that this guy loses 7 billion and it doesn't impact him all that much (it's probably a quaint little joke; Ha-ha, lost 7 billion this year... only 50 billion left, time for coupon clipping!) and yet my school district gives us a 3% pay cut and raises our insurance premium and I suddenly have to go through my entire lifestyle to see where edges can be trimmed.

And I am a salaried professional with a Masters degree and 2 full time jobs (teaching and writing -- 3 if you count speaking). Makes me kinda wonder how folks making an hourly wage with no health insurance are actually making it in this world.

Actually, they are not. Nickel and Dimed is a a great read for those who want to explore more on this but let's face it, when it comes to getting by in America these days, the older generation has left us in a less advantageous position than the generation prior to theirs left them.

And we have got to turn this puppy around because it's bad for all of us when the children of our nation have "less" than what we ourselves had.

Of course, where does it all start? In my opinion -- D'uh -- education. Gotta love those school budget cuts, right? Good for today, great for tomorrow.